Time interval indicating device



Aug. 6, 1940. D. PERLMAN TIME INTERVAL INDICATING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 11, 1935 vllllllllgl I NVE NTOR.

D. PERLMAN TIME INTERVAL INDIC ATING DEVICE Filed Feb. 11, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Aug. 6, 1940.

Aug. 6, 1940. PERLMAN 2210,33?

TIME INTERVAL INDICATING DEVICE Filed Feb. 11, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 0- D. PERLMAN 2210,337-

TIME INTERVAL INDICATING DEVICE Filed Feb. 11, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 6, 1940 UNITED STATEfi mesa if a

FATENT OFF @151 David Perlman,

New York, N. Y.

Application February 11, 1935, Serial No. 5,910

5 Claims.

This invention relates to timing devices, and more particularly refers to improvements in devices for measuring predetermined time intervals, and for actuating suitable signals in connection therewith, said devices being operable by a clock mechanism or being associated with a clock so as to be adapted to be operatively connected to or disconnected from the mechanism thereof.

Essentially, this invention represents a simplification of and improvement over the invention disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 742,044, filed August 30, 1934, now Patent No. 2,115,280, granted April 26, 1938, for Time control devices.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a practical and relatively inexpensive device, enabling a telephone user to maintain the length of telephone conversations within prescribed limits, Without undue difiiculty; said device consisting of a clock combined with a time meter adapted to be set in operation when a telephone conversation is started, and to automatically apprize the telephone user of the termination of a predetermined time interval by means of an audible or visible signal, or both. The device is of course also usable for other purposes, and generally in connection with operations where it is necessary or desirable to keep a careful check of the time element involved.

The usual charges for telephone calls are for a definite period, which, when exceeded, will require payment of the full succeeding period, even if the overtime amounts only to a fraction of such period.

Thus, for example, from New York to Los Angeles, the first three minutes of a call cost $8.75 and every additional minute $2.75. The telephone company allows twelve seconds overtime on such calls. If the party using the telephone continues the conversation one second beyond the allowed overtime of twelve seconds, he has to pay an additional $2.75, that is, the minimum charge for a full minute for exactly using the telephone for one second only.

Accordingly, it is a further object of my invention to provide means for apprizing the telephone user in due time to close his conversation within the allowed limit and the permissible overtime, such as by warning him in a suitable manner, say fifteen seconds before the expiration of every full minute in the example above given, thus to enable him to close his conversation on time and avoid paying the rate for a full minute for actually using the telephone a fraction thereof.

In this manner, as is obvious, great savings are secured on the part of the telephone subscribers.

A further object of my invention is the construction of a meter of the character specified, adapted to signal electrically, by energizing buzzers, bells, lights, or any other audible or visual signalling means built in the meter or extended from the meter by means of connecting conductors, including selective means to energize either the former or the latter signals.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a very simple means to engage the meter gear train to and disengage it from the clock gear train.

A further object of my invention is the provision of means to prevent the clock or the meter from appreciably gaining or losing in their time indications during the combined or single operation of the clock and the meter with respect to 1 standard time indications.

A further object of my invention is the provision of simple, reliable and durable friction or clutch means for connecting and driving the meter gear train from the clock gear train.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a simple arrangement for controlling the operation of the engaging, disengaging and brake functioning parts by means of a single easily actuated member.

A further object of my invention is the provision of means to minimize to the limit the load due to the meter gear train and thus assure perfect time indication and operation of the meter gear train, and prevent stoppage of the entire gear train through overload.

A further object of my invention is the provision of means to prevent destruction of the cam and switch contacts.

A further object of my invention is the provision of means to reset the meter hands to zero position, arranged so as to prevent inaccuracies of time indication and movement of the meter hands resulting from the play or lost motion between the teeth throughout the entire meter gear train.

A further object of my invention is the provision of means for resetting of the meter hands to zero position from any rest position on the dial, requiring a simple operation, such as the pressing or moving of a lever or plunger.

A further object of my invention is a special construction of the meter resetting gear segment to prevent it from jamming and damaging the mechanism upon faulty engagement with the gear resetting pinion.

A further object of my invention is the provision of means whereby breakage or disarrangement of the meter mechanism during the resetting operation of the gear train, which is normally stopped in different positions, are automatically prevented.

A further object of my invention is the provision of means for controlling and stopping the meter hands during the resetting operation on the exact zero position of the dial, independently controlled by the resetting member and by the gear train.

A further object of my invention is the provision of resilient bumper means to prevent damaging of the hands or other meter parts upon resetting, when the second hand revolving at a relatively high speed is brought to a sudden stop by bumping into the stop pin.

A further object of my invention is the provision of means to start the operation of the meter with the entire clock gear train simultaneously, when the clock movement operation has come to a stop, due to the main spring having run down.

A further object of my invention is the provision of means for insuring a positive electrical contact on the signalling cam and its carrying hub.

A further object of my invention is the provision of means to overcome the unsteady and jumping movements of the seconds signalling hand, and to secure its steady and uniform operation.

A further object of my invention is the provision of simple and efiicient electrical contacts which eliminate wiring and soldering and make it possible for the entire device to be quickly and simply assembled, and of other features herein to be described in detail and disclosed in the drawings.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a combined clock and meter device embodying my invention;

Fig. la is a signalling light;

Fig. 2 is a partial view in section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the clock mechanism with the rear plate removed;

Fig. 4 is a side fragmentary view of the meter mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a side fragmentary view of the same mechanism with the operating parts in different positions; I

Fig. 6 is a front view of the same mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a rear View thereof;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of Fig. '7 with the parts in different operating positions;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of the signalling parts;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side view taken on line lit-Ii! of Fig. 6, illustrating the synchronized operation to stop the meter hands on zero position;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary front view of same taken on line IIII of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a plan view showing the mechanism Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view in section on line I4I4 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 15 is a detail top view on line l5--I5 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged view in section of the friction meter operating gear;

Fig. 17 is a side view of a modified form of meter driving engagement mechanism;

Fig. 18 is the same mechanism in engaged position;

Fig. 19 is a view on line I9I9 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a View on line 28-28 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary section View on line 2l-2I of Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 is a side view showing a modified form of a meter driving mechanism;

Fig. 23 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit; and

Fig. 24 is a detail vertical section through the base of the clock.

Referring to Fig. 1, I I designates a case having an opening for a dial I2 having two sets of indicating numerals, I3 to indicate the meter time reading, and I4 to indicate the conventional time reading. The hands I5 and I6 travel over the meter indicating scale, and the hands I! and I8 travel over the time indicating scale. The hand It indicates by seconds and makes a complete revolution over the dial in 1 minute and the hand I5 indicates by minutes and makes a complete revolution over the dial in 15 minutes. The conventional indication of hands I! and I8 need not be described herein.

The dial I2 has an opening I9 for a stop pin 20. A plunger 2I is depressible through sleeve 22, carried on case I I mounted on a base 23. The base 23 terminates on line a-a on models not equipped for electrical signalling, or else it continues with a hollow casing 25 provided for batteries 26, a suitable buzzer 2'5, or a bulls-eye, with a double throw switch 28 and connector 29 set in case opening 9A0, for plugging in connecting cord 30 to some suitable signalling unit for use at a distance, like the buzzer 3! or the light in Fig. 1a. The light and the buzzer are equipped with a pair of spring clipping jaws 32 for clamping over the telephone unit 33 on any other suitable object. 34 is the resetting lever projecting from the back of the device, as seen in Fig. 7.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, ll) and H are plates held together by pillars 42 with nuts 43. Between the plates 40 and 4| in suitable bearing holes is assembled a conventional main spring driven clock gear train having a winding key $5 for winding up the spring 46 housed in barrel 4? and having its outer end attached to the inner wall of said barrel. The inner end of the spring 46 connects with the shaft of gear 48 driving the pinion 49 of gear 50. The gear 50, together with its pinion 19, is loosely carried on shaft 59' and is held in frictional engagement by a spring '35 compressed by a. collar 36. The shaft 5!! car-- ries a knurled knob 31 for resetting of the: conventional time indicating hands I1 and I8. The hand I! makes a complete revolution every twelve hours and the hand I3 is mounted on the end of shaft 50 and makes one revolution per hour. The rest of the gear train enumerated from 49 to 58 is driving the escapement gear train and is well known to the art and need not be described in detail herein.

Mounted on shaft 50' is a pinion 59 carrying by frictional engagement of a spring 60 a gear GI, as shown in detail in Fig. 16. The gear 6| is facing on one side a washer 62, specially constructed of a suitable material having good wearing properties. A similar washer 63 faces the outside wall of the spring 60.

On plate 4 I, Fig. 5, is mounted a stud 65 carrying two intermediate gears and pinions. The gear IiI drives the pinion 66 of gear 61. And the gear 6'! drives the pinion 58 of gear 69. The gear 69 carries on its hub?!) the meter minute hand I5 and makes a complete revolution in fifteen minutes. The gear 69 drives the pinion 'II with its gear I2. The gear I2 drives the pinion I3 which carries on its hub the signal controlling cam M and the seconds indicating hand I5, and makes one revolution per minute. These gears and pinions constitute the consecutive meter gear train. This gear train is normally held in inoperative position by the spring brake I6, pressing on the gear I2 as shown on Fig. 4. This inoperative position of the meter gear train does not stop the normal operation of the clock gear train which continues in operation against the friction exerted by spring 60 against gear 6!. The spring brake I9 is secured on pillars I8 by means of screws I9. As clearly shown in Fig. 6, the brake spring It is V-shaped and has a suitably formed extension I! for engagement with plunger 2I which forces the spring brake I6 outwardly as soon as it is pressed down, as shown in Fig. 5.

The meter is started immediately upon opening of the telephone conversation by pressing down the plunger 2|. This releases the brake from the meter gear train which immediately begins to function and drives hands I5 and I6, together with its signal controlling cam I4. Upon completion of the telephone conversation the plunger 2i is raised up again to the position shown in Fig. l, thusonce more causing the operation of the meter gear train to come to a stop.

Fig. 9 shows the electrical switch 83 with cam I4 in the normal reset position and ready to give off its first warning signal about threequarters of a minute after becoming operative and two additional signals upon completion of the first minute; the signals continuing to be repeated in the same order as long as the meter is operating.

The switch is mounted on angle bracket 80 by means of screws 8I, said bracket being attached to plate II by means of screws 82. The switch spring 83 carries a silver contact 84 for engaging the contact teeth 86 and Bl of cam I4. As shown in Fig. 9, spring 83 terminates at its lower end with a suitably formed contact shoe 85 for engaging contact screw 9i connecting to a double throw switch blade terminal 92, Fig. 23. The contact 93 from the switch connects to the buzzer 2! at 95 and returns from the buzzer by contact 96 to contact 9'! on the outlet connecting plug 29 which connects with a return spring 98 to the battery 26. With the switch in this position the buzzer 27, which is in the meter and is shown in a fragmentary view only to avoid complications in the drawings, is energized by the signalling impulses. By throwing over the switch blade 92 to contact 94 which connects to contact 99 of outlet connector 29, the outlet only becomes energized. The cam I4 has a groove 88 in which rides a spring 89 which is held by a screw 90 to bracket 80. The purpose of spring 89 is to make a perfect electric contact with the cam I4 and also to check and steady the movement of the cam I4 with its hub carrying the hand I6, which would make irregular jumping movements without the said spring.

A check spring I03 is provided, extending alongside spring 83. This spring is provided to prevent the switch spring 83 from developing vibrating movements and thereby damage the contacts of the cam and switch. This vibration is caused by the speedy movements of the revolving cam I4 during the resetting operations.

By eliminating the electrical parts described and limiting the base 23 to line aa, this combined clock and telephone meter may be made and used with very satisfactory results. The same device may also be produced and used with or without the electrical alarm devices as a telephone meter only by simply omitting the hands I I, I8, the numerals on the dial I 4, the pinion 59, the gear I05 with its pinion I96, and the gear IBI with its hand I1, and the hand I8, as shown in Fig. 2.

In stepping up the revolving ratio of the shaft 59 making one revolution per hour, to the pinion I3 to make sixty revolutions per hour, it becomes of great importance for all bearings and bearing parts to offer the least possible frictional resistance, if correct meter time reading is to be had, also in order to prevent the friction gear 'EI from slipping while driving the meter gear train.

In the arrangement shown, the hub I3 of pinion 13 represents the point most likely to cause the aforesaid trouble, because the friction and weight of gear I01 with its hub I08 and its hand I'I, if borne by it could not fail to generate undue friction.

I overcome this possibility by providing a clearance space I I19 between hubs I3 and IE8 by making the hub I08 to bear by its outer circumference in the hole III! of the dial I2, as shown in Figs. 2 and 22.

Normally, before use, the hands I5 and I6 of the meter are at zero position on the dial, and at the end of an operating period the same hands will have come to occupy various positions on the dial, and in order to set these hands again to zero position, a gear I I5 meshing with pinion II of gear I2 is brought in action, to turn the entire meter gear train backwards to zero position against the friction of brake spring I6 pressing on gear I2.

For this resetting operation the lever 34 is provided. This lever is carried on the outer end of sleeve H6, Fig. 14, and is locked in position by a nut 7. This sleeve is pivotally mounted on stud H8 of plate 4| and is secured from slipping off by a screw H9. The sleeve H5 carries on its inner end a bracket IZll formed with an internal gear segment I22 having teeth I23 adapted to engage pinion I3 1. The latter is fixed on a shaft I25 carrying at its inner end the resetting gear II 5, which is loosely mounted thereon and capable of axial displacement with respect thereto. The gear I I5 is fixed on a sleeve I28 provided on its fiat face with ratchet teeth I29 for relative engagement with the teeth I39 of the opposing collar I3I which is carried and fastened by a thread on shaft I 25, as shown in Fig. 2.

The teeth on collar I3! and sleeve I28 are cut for engagement of the latter by the former only when shaft I25 rotates in a clockwise ro tation looking from the end of pinion I34. A spring I33, Fig. 6, riveted to the spring brake I6 at I32 is provided. to press gently upon the gear H5 to cause its mountings teeth I29 to be in constant engagement with the opposing teeth I30, and also to allow axial displacement of the sleeve I28 suflicient to permit its teeth I29 to trip over the teeth I30 whenthe collar I30 is revolved in the anti-clockwise rotation. Y

The specific objects in placing the resetting gear II5 so close to thegear carrying the meter seconds hand, so as to reset the gear train by revolving the meter gear train 'in the reverse rotation from one of its geared elements close to or at the end of the train, is to minimize the errors and the lag which would inevitably occur, for example, if the meter gear train resetting .gear II5 should mesh with the lower intermediate pinion 66, for resetting operation to be performed in either direction. The result would be a considerable loss of timefrom thestart of the resetting operation to the time when the seconds hand would begin to move.

This time Variation is a result of the lost motion between the loosely meshing teeth, between the gears and the pinions, and the accumulated time it takes from the lower very slow moving gears or pinions to beginrto move or to drive oneanother until all the lost motion of the loose meshing teeth between the gears and pinions, behind the seconds pinion I3 is taken up, and the driving motion becomes effective upon the seconds pinion, which is the last in the train. With my arrangement for reverse resetting I overcome this defect up to the teeth of gear I2 and pinion 73', where'there is lost motion left equivalent to a fraction of a second only.

With the unidirectional resetting means operative only in the desired rotation, and'tripping upon'the slightest reverse rotation, I secure the continuity of proper operation of the meter, by preventing disturbance and the setting up of lost motion between the meshing teeth of the gears and pinions.

The resetting operation can be performed manually by providing the rear end of shaft E25 with a knob similar to knob 31 carried on shaft 50 for resetting of the'clock hands I! and I8.

If the meter is tobe used frequently such resetting operation would in time become inconvenient and troublesome. I overcome this inconvenience by providing a pinion I34 on shaft I25. The pinion 134 is frictionally' engaged with the shaft I25 by means of a pressure spring I35 interposed between said pinion and'a collar I36 carried by said shaft.

The purpose of this frictional arrangement is to secure proper resetting operation of the meter, while at the same time preventing possible breakage of the seconds hand I5 or its stop pin 24 upon stopping of the hand on zero position during the resetting operation. When the resetting is completed, the frictional arrangement permits of still further rotation of the pinion M4 by its driving gear segment I22 against the friction eX- erted on shaft I25 by spring I35, as willbe understood. I

The resetting gear segment I22 is normally held in its disengaged position shown in Fig. 7 by its spring I39 which is anchored to plate 4d at one end and which has its other end pressing outwardly against the lower part of bracket i20. The gear segment I22 has a projection I2B'abutting against a stop arm I2! which rests against the edge of plate 40, as shown in Fig. '7. The stop arm I2! is mounted on a shaft I49 pivoted in plates 44 and 4I at IM and I42, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The inner end of shaft I45 carries an arm I43 having at its end a roller I44 adapted to engage the sloping cam portion I45 of a frame I46 carrying'th'estop pin 20 for the seconds hand I6.

The projection I26 of segment I22 abuts against the arm I27 by the action of spring I39. This forces the stop arml2l to turn on. its pivots I4I,' I42, and to abut against the edge of plate 40, as shown in Fig. '7. This action causes the arm I 43 with its roller-I44 to engage and ride over the cam portion I45, this causing the frame I45 to remain in the deflected position shown in Fig. 5, due to the pressure of roller I44 against said cam portion I45. The frame I46 is mounted on pillars I8 of plate M and isheld in place by screws I9.

The frame I46 is made of suitable springy material with ribs I41 for the purpose of providing resiliency not only in a front to rear direction, but also considerable resiliency in a lateral sense in order to act as a bumper for its stop pin 24. The frame I45 is held in place in spaced relation with respect to spring brake it by the action of spacers I42 interposed therebetween, by the screws I9. Fig. 5 shows the frame in its normal deflected position with its stop pin 2!] retracted and clearing the path for rotation of the seconds hand I6.

Fig. 4 shows the arm I43 with its actuating roller I44 raised for the purpose of releasing the frame I46 with its stop'pin 20 now blocking the path of movement of hand I6, which must stop by bumping into the pin 20. This pin is provided with a taper I48 and a stop shoulder 549. The taper to prevent the hand from jumping over the pin when bumping into it, and the stop shoulder to prevent the same hand upon bumping into the' pin 25 from becoming bent and from getting out of proper alignment with relation to the face of dial I2.

The frame I 46 has a lower U-shaped section I59 formed with ashoe I5! for engaging a flat section I53 of cam I52, as shown in Fig. 11. The cam I52 is fixed on hub l5 carrying the meter minute hand I5, and its fiat part' I53 is synchronized to align with the shoe I5I only when the hand I5 is about to approach the'zero position on dial I2. And in this position only is the frame I46 with its stop pin 20 free to yield'to the spring pivotal action of its ribs I41, tending to return said frame from the twisted position shown in Fig. 5 to the undeformed position shown in Fig. 4.

In other words, frame I45 will betilted from its normal vertical position with ribs I4! as a fulcrum, either by the action of roller I44 or by the pressure exerted against shoe I5I by the rounded portion of cam I52, and is free to resume its normal position only when thepressure upon it is released at both ends.

The slanted section I 45 with its actuating roller I44 and its actuating parts have the purpose of holding the pin 20 constantly in its retracted position and prevent it from projecting when the hands I5 and I6 reach or travel beyond the zero position on the dial during a long telephone conversation lasting over fifteen minutes. The arrangement has the further object of relieving all the frictional load between the pressing shoe I SI and the cam I52 and its hub 'Iil during the meter operations, by holding the shoe out of contact with the cam.

In this construction the hands l5, !6 are arranged to be stopped on zero position of dial I2 by the operation of the resetting lever 34 only. And the release of the stop pin 25 is controlled by two independent agencies; namely, the synchronized means, and the resetting means. And it is necessary first to bring into action the lresetting means causing its projection I26 to release the stop arm I21 with its relative roller I44 and thus release the slanted section I45 of the frame I46 with its pin 29 for cam I52 to become operative. And onlyin this position does the cam I52 with its relative shoe begin to function to ultimately release the stop pin 28 when the hands I and I5 reach the zero position on dial I2.

The resetting gear segment I22 is normally in the position shown in Fig. '7 and is brought into engagement with pinion Hi l by downward pressure of lever 34.

The pinion I34 normally revolves with the meter gear train, and at times is in a position as shown in Fig. 8 with its teeth in bucking relation to the teeth I23 of segment I22. This would result in jamming and consequent damage to the mechanism, upon engagement.

In order to correct this condition I provide the segment brackets with a suitable spring section I2I having sufiicient resiliency to allow for the yielding of the segment I22 in such contingencies. The spring deformation permits a faulty start over a couple of teeth to occur, this condition soon righting itself when the teeth will trip in proper engagement with one another, without jamming or damaging the device.

In addition to this I prefer to construct the teeth with rounded ends to insure their slipping off from one another and getting into proper mesh.

Figs. 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 disclose a modified form of a meter gear. train engagement and driving means similar to those shown in Fig. 16.

The modified form of construction comprises a disc 62' the contact surface of which may either be smooth or as shown in Fig. 19 at 62"; this face 62" engages with the face 6|" of gear 6|, which may also be smooth or with swedges as shown at ill in Fig. 21.

The clutch IlEl carrying the gear SI is loosely mounted on the shaft 55' and is normally pressed by the spring Ell against disc 52 in engaged position as shown in Fig. 18. The collar I12, against which spring 69 abuts, is carried on shaft 50.

In this position the spring brake I6 is released.

The operating brake spring I6, when operative, as shown in Fig. 17, holds the clutch in disengaged position and at the same time compresses the spring 85 for the purpose of imposing upon the clock gear train a suitable load, in place of the load required to drive the meter gear train, in order to avoid irregularitiesin the registration of time.

In a spring wound clock which operates with a balancing wheel not provided with any centrifugal automatic governors, the main spring power and the load of the gear train must be very closely maintained in a given relation to each other, in order to avoid appreciable gains or losses in the time indications. The tendency will be for these to advance some when the spring is too strong or when it is fully wound up, and to lag when the spring is too Weak or considerably run down. In the combined clock and telephone meter this problem is more acute, owing to the fact that the additional meter gear train only functions intermittently, and requires considerable additional spring driving power for its operation.

Without the friction spring 60 or 60 in either construction it would be almost impossible to make the clock operate without appreciable time variations.

If it should be regulated to keep the right time with the meter gear train in disengaged position, it would lose considerable time when operating the two combined gear trains.

The compensation afforded by either spring Si] or 60' has proved very satisfactory in practice.

Fig. 22 shows the aforesaid modification applied to a modified gear drive in which the meter gear train is driven not by the shaft which makes one revolution per hour, but by the escapement wheel shaft 56 which makes sixty revolutions per hour.

On escapement wheel shaft 56 is carried the mounting Bid with its disc 62 engaging gear I55 driving an idler pinion I56. The pinion I56 drive-sthe gear 73 with its seconds signalling cam I4 and hand It. The pinion I5'I of gear 73 drives the gear I58 with its pinion I59. Pinion I59 drives the gear 68 carrying the minute hand I5. All the rest of the parts function in the same manner as already described.

The spring brake lever I6 shown in Figs. 17, 18 and 22 is operating in the same manner as the spring brake lever It operates of Figs. 4, 5 and 6, with the only difference that the meter gear train is started by raising of the plunger 2i and stopped by lowering of the plunger 2i.

The main spring driving power required to operate the clock with the additional load of the friction gear BI or 6| is slightly in excess of the actual power required to drive the clock with the normally operating meter gear train engaged, and for this reason when the clock stops it still has sufficient power to continue driving the combined gear train if given a start on its balance wheel 58 upon starting the meter.

For this purpose I have provided a resilient spring starter I55, Figs. 3, l2 and 13, carried on its stud I6I by the plate M. The starter has a right angular arm IBI for frictional engagement with the periphery of the balance wheel 58 for setting it in motion. The starting spring I69 has a loop I62 for engagement with a shoe IE3. This shoe is also pivoted on the stud ISI with suitably formed eye brackets straddling on both sides of the spring I65. The spring I66 is loosely carried between the guide lips I63 provided for free up and down flexing movements. The spring I60 has several coils I64 around the stud IBI and has its outer end I65 in the slot Hill of stud IEI. This assembly is held secure on the stud by a washer I66.

The tension of coils I64 normally holds the loop I62 with its shoe I63 in the up position as shown in Fig. 3, with the angular arm IGI of spring I 60 in the lower clearing position of the balance wheel 58, where it does not interfere with its normal operation.

When plunger 2| is pressed down, it also presses on the shoe I63 and deflects the spring loop I52, thus causing the spring IE5 to tilt upwardly, its right angular arm I6I' passing by and frictionally engaging the balance wheel 58, which gets the required starting impulse and begins to operate the clock gear train. The arm, IE! will subsequently remain in a clearing position where it does not interfere with the operation of the balance wheel 58.

The movement is finally assembled with additional pillars I80, Fig. 2, for a dial mounting ring I8I held with nuts I82. Dial I2 has suitable legs I83 for mounting in holes I84 in ring I8I.

Thisentireassembly is secured bymeans of screws I in the inner shell of easing I L Although the frictional load compensation described is particularly advantageous when the main clock movement is run by spring power, it is obvious that most of the novel features described are also applicable when an electric clock is used. v a

The constructional details of my device can vary from those shown without departure from the inventive idea; the drawings should therefore be understood as being intended for illustrative purposes only and not in a limiting sense.

I accordingly reserve the right to carry my invention into practice in all those ways and manners which may enter, fairly, into the scope of the appended claims. a

'I claim: a

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a continuously running clock mechanism, a normally inoperative time meter mechanism and an indicating member forming part of said time meter mechanism, of a frictional connecting means continuously coupling said time meter mechanism with said clock mechanism, releasable stop means to start and stop the movement of said time meter mechanism, said frictional connecting means being adapted to afford adequate coupling connection between said clock mechanism and said time meter mechanism when the latter is allowed to run freely in the released position of said stop means, and said frictional connecting means being further adapted to function as a brake imposing upon said clock mechanism a load substantially equivalent to that represented by said time meter mechanism when the latter is restrained against movement in the applied position of said stop means, and manually operable means for resetting said indicating member to starting position independently of said clock mechanism, said last mentioned means comprising a depressible lever, a unidirectionally operative driving connection interposed between said lever and said time meter mechanism, a stop member for said indicating member, a carrier for said stop member adapted to retract it out of or to advance it in the path of said indicating member, and means controlled by said lever retaining said carrier in its retracted position when said lever is in operative position and releasing said carrier when said lever is moved to actuate said resetting means.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a continuously running clock mechanism, a normally inoperative time meter mechanism and an indicating member forming part of said time meter mechanism, of a frictional connecting means continuously coupling said time meter mechanism with said clock mechanism, releasable stop meansv to start and stop the movement of said time meter mechanism, said frictional connecting means being adapted to afford adequate coupling connection between said clock mechanism and said time meter mechanism when the latter is allowed to run freely in the released position of said stop means, and said frictional connecting means being further adapted to function as a brake imposing upon said clock mechanism a load substantially equivalent to that represented by said time meter mechanism when the latter is restrained against movement in the applied position of said stop means, and means for resetting said indicating member to starting position independently of said clock mechanism, a depressible lever adapted to actuate said resettingmean's, a unldirectionally' op erative driving connection interposed between said lever and said time mechanism, a stop member for said indicating member, a carrier for said stop member. adapted to retract it out of or to advance it in the path of said indicating member, means controlledby said lever retaining said carrier in its retracted position when said lever is in its normal inoperative position and releasing said carrier when said lever is moved to actuate said resetting means, and additional means operatively associated with said time meter mechanism restraining said carrier against advancing said stop member to stop position until said indicating member approaches its starting position at the end of the resetting operation.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a continuously running clock mechanism, a normally inoperative time meter mechanism and an indicating member formmg part of said time meter mechanism, of a frictional connecting means continuously coupling said time meter mechanism with said clock mechanism, releasable stop means to start and stop the movement of said time meter mechanism, said frictional connecting means being adapted to afford adequate coupling connection between said clock mechanism and said time meter mechanism when the latter is allowed to run freely in the released position of said stop means, and said frictional connecting means being further adapted to function as a brake imposing upon said clock mechanism a load substantially equivalent to that represented by said time meter mechanism when the latter is restrained against movement in the applied position of said stop means, and means for resetting said indicating member tostarting position independently of said clock mechanism, a pinion adapted to operate said resetting means, a unidireotionally operative driving connection interposed between said pinion and said resetting means, a pivotally mounted gear segment adapted to mesh with said pinion, a manually operable lever associated with and adapted to cause angular displacement of said segment from its normally inoperative position to drive said pinion in its operative direction, a spring adapted to return said segment and lever to inoperative position when released, a normally retracted stop member for said indicating member, and means associp ated with said resetting means for moving said stop member to operative position in the path of said indicating member when said indicating member approaches the startingv position at the end of the resetting operation.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a continuously running clock mechanism, a normally inoperative time meter mechanism and an indicating member forming part of said time meter mechanism, of a frictional connecting means continuously coupling said time meter mechanism with said clock mechanism, releasable stop means to start and stop the movement of said time meter mechanism, said frictional connecting means being adapted to afford adequate coupling connection between said clock mechanism and said time meter mechanism when the latter is allowed to run freely in the released position of said stop means, and said frictional connecting means being further adapted to function as a brake imposing upon said clock mechanism a load substantially equivalent to that represented by said time meter mechanism when the latter is restrained against movement in the applied position of said stop means, 15

and means for resetting said time meter mechanism and indicating member to starting position independently of said clock mechanism, a pinion adapted to operate said resetting means, a unidirectionally operative driving connection interposed between said pinion and said resetting means, a pivotally mounted gear segment adapted to mesh with said pinion, a manually operable lever associated with and adapted to cause angular displacement of said segment from its normally inoperative position to drive said pinion in its operative direction, a spring adapted to return said segment and lever to inoperative position when released, a resilient member connecting said segment to said lever and allowing said segment to yield to prevent jamming when faulty engagement between said segment and pinion occurs.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a continuously running spring actuated clock mechanism and a normally inoperative time meter mechanism, of a frictional connecting means continuously coupling said time meter mechanism with said clock mechanism, releasable stop means to start and stop movement of said time meter mechanism, said frictional connecting means being adapted to afford adequate coupling connection between said clock mechanism and said time meter mechanism when the latter is allowed to run freely in the released position of said stop means, and said frictional connecting means being further adapted to function as a brake imposing on said clock mechanism a load substantially equivalent to that represented by said time meter mechanism when the latter is restrained against movement in the applied position of said stop means, manually operable means for resetting said meter mechanism to starting position independently of said clock mechanism, further means for imparting to said clock mechanism a starting impulse upon the operation of said stop means to establish driving relation between said clock and meter mechanisms, whereby said time meter can still be rendered operative even after said clock mechanism may have become run down sufficiently to cause its operation to stop.

DAVID PERLMAN. 

